Mt Druitt TAFE Community Learning Garden

Discussion began with key stakeholders in mid 2011 about how to achieve a community learning space on campus. Four men from an Outreach Men @ Work program, looking to establish a Men’s Shed in Mt Druitt, committed to the project. The project reuses materials as much as possible and is largely run by volunteers It kicked off in December 2011 with a donation of 15 barrels rescued from waste through a local manufacturer. They were used to start raised beds for herbs that would supply Mt Druitt College Hospitality Section.
Key objectives for the project included:

• Creating a space accessible to engage and motivate highly disadvantaged students in study or work embedding sustainable practices modelled and integrated: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle
• Maximising on campus and community connectivity through strong partnerships to deliver targeted training to up-skill and/or retrain workers applying TAFE Outreach Community Capacity building approach with mentoring embedded as key component
• This approach facilitates a whole of government solutions using wrap-around support services.
• Providing opportunities for side by side learning, complementary learning in a range of Outreach classes and a space for learners voice
• Promoting access to professional on-campus Counselling, Multicultural Education Coordinators, Aboriginal Student Support Officers, Teacher Consultants for Students with Disabilities and other equity support services
• Embed therapeutic community approaches to delivery and facilitate dynamic learning networks to strengthening inner support systems
• Developing social networking and applying emerging technologies to focus on career development components